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Blue Squadron, under the command of GeneralAntoc Merrick as Blue Leader, took part in the Battle of Scarif along with Red Squadron, Green Squadron, and Gold Squadron. Blue Squadron was expanded into a unit well beyond the usual 12 ships of the same design. It was a mix of X-wings, assigned to escort UT-60D U-wings into combat zones and, a small number of Y-wings reallocated from squadrons in neighboring sectors. Heff Tobber (Blue Eight), Calum Gram (Blue Nine), and Laren Joma (Blue Eleven with Taslet Colb as copilot and Bistan as gunner) all flew U-wings while Paril Ritta (Blue Twelve) served as a Y-wing pilot. [3]

Blue Squadron X-wings accompanied the rest of the Alliance Fleet to the aid of Rogue One on Scarif below. Blue Squadron was tasked with penetrating the shield gate and providing air support and infantry reinforcements to Rogue One. On the approach to the shield gate, Merrick, at least six other Blue Group X-wings and Laren Joma's U-wing managed to bypass the Imperial defences and travel down toward the surface. However, the gate was shut, forcing Vangos Grek (Blue Six) and another X-wing pilot to pull up. Both were destroyed on impact with the planetary shield, but Barion Raner (Blue Four), Jaldine Gerams (Blue Three) and at least 2 other X-wings managed to avoid impact and went to assist the Rebel fleet in space above.[2]

In the air around the Citadel, U-wings and X-wings were able to provide air support to and reinforce the troops on the ground, destroying two AT-ACTs and engaging Imperial TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighters in the air. During the battle, the upper starboard engine of Merrick's T-65B was damaged by a TIE striker, causing his ship to spiral toward the ground, killing him on impact.[2] Most, if not all, of Blue Squadron's craft were destroyed at Scarif. The squadron's decimation at Scarif and the loss of its commanding officer meant that Blue Squadron would not be present at the following climactic battle at Yavin, leaving Red and Gold Squadrons to take on that engagement.

Blue Squadron was also part of the Rebel force stationed on Hoth when the Empire discovered the base, launching an invasion that signaled the commencement of the Battle of Hoth. Using T-47 airspeeders, the pilots of Blue Squadron helped to defend Echo Base from All Terrain Armored Transports (AT-ATs) and All Terrain Scout Transports (AT-STs). They destroyed the AT-STs with the speeder's primary blasters and used their harpoon and tow cables to defeat the AT-ATs. This allowed three transports to escape the base.[1]